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Local News

After receiving reports of people inadvertently stepping off of the raised sidewalk areas in front of some businesses on Gallatin Street, the city of Vandalia decided to install handrails at those locations.

The handrails were installed last week, including this one in front of NOISE Music and Sound.

The Vandalia Public Swimming Pool will open on Friday, May 31
The pool hours will be: Sunday-Friday, 1-5 p.m. and 6-8 p.m.; and Saturdays, 1-5 p.m. only. Private Parties are held from 6-8 p.m.
Wednesday mornings, from June 12-Aug. 7, are free from 9-11 a.m.
Admission is $4.00 for everyone over the age of 4; those 4 and under are free.
Those who pay to swim from 1-5 p.m. may swim for free from 6-8 p.m. by getting their hand stamped before they leave in the afternoon.
Season Passes are:

The Vandalia Community High School class of 1993 is holding its 20-year reunion on Saturday, June 29, at the Vandalia Country and Golf Club.
It will include a golf scramble from 8 a.m.-noon, family swimming from noon-3 p.m. and dinner at 6 p.m.
Organizers have tried to contact fellow classmates by email or on Facebook. Those who graduated in 1993 and have not received an evite may contact Julie Withers at 283-8727 for details.

✔ TOPS IL 2490 will meet from 9:30-10:30 a.m. at First Baptist Church in Ramsey. Weigh-in is from 9-9:30 a.m. For more information, contact Dovie Heaton-Bergin at 283-1729.
✔ TOPS IL 1872, Ramsey, will meet at the Christian Church in Ramsey. Weigh-in is at 6:20 p.m., and the meeting is at 7 p.m.
Friday, May 17

✔ A bake sale to benefit Fayette County Relay for Life will be held from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. at Family Video on Gallatin Street in Vandalia.

A tribute to local veterans on Friday evening will include a performance by an Air Force band.
The next day, a variety of activities will be offered during a festival sponsored by the Shoal Creek Chapter of ABATE (A Brotherhood Aimed Toward Education) and the Vandalia Tourism Commission.
The Armed Forces Tribute on Friday evening on the Vandalia Statehouse lawn will get under way with a pork chop dinner provided by the Vandalia Ministerial Alliance. The meal will cost $5, and serving is from 5-7:30 p.m.

Several Patoka officials and a number of volunteers did landscaping work at the Welcome to Patoka sign and also planted five trees on Saturday.

In the first photo, Stacy Hood (left), the outgoing village president, and Lura Thompson get some help from Jim Eagleton in putting plants into the ground. In the second photo, Brady Thompson helps spread landscaping rock. Other volunteers included Village Treasurer Annette McNicol, Sean Cullipp, Lynn Eagleton and Pat McCabe.

The Vandalia Police Department is looking for the public’s help in trying to solve last Wednesday’s armed robbery of a convenience store, and it’s willing to pay for that help.
Police Chief Jeff Ray announced on Monday that the investigation into the armed robbery at Phillips 66 shortly after 9 p.m. last Wednesday is continuing.
Ray said that a white male who had his face covered entered the convenience store alone, displayed a handgun and demanded money from the attendant on duty.

Less than a month after it rejected a liquor license application, the Fayette County Board voted to clean up the wording of the county ordinance for one type of liquor license.
The board voted unanimously on Tuesday to clarify that the holder of a Class A liquor license may only sell alcoholic beverages that are to be consumed on-site.
Board Chairman Steve Knebel said that the board’s liquor committee met with State’s Attorney Joshua Morrison and Assistant State’s Attorney Amanda Ade-Harlow “to clarify ordinances.”

The Vandalia Police Department, through Fayette County Crime Watchers, is offering a reward of $500 to the first caller to provide information about last week's armed robbery that leads to an arrest and conviction.

The armed robbery took place shortly after 9 p.m. last Wednesday at the Phillips 66 convenience store at 1333 N. Kennedy Blvd. Police said that a white male who had his face covered showed a gun and demanded money from an attendant.